Meet the Mets
As we slowly slog towards a day when there will be actual meaningful baseball, the Mets gave us a preview of coming attractions at Space Coast stadium, staring top prospect Matt Harvey on the mound and former middle infielder Jordany Valdespin in center field. How'd things go? Well, you know, it's spring training, they're probably just working on some stuff. But seriously, this is utterly meaningless, other than to maybe point out that Harvey still needs some work on fastball command and secondary stuff. Much of his success last year was predicated on blowing his plus fastball past A-ball bats. He'll be fine.
Of course, the Mets couldn't actually get through a whole game without enduring another injury to a starter, this time it was Jason Bay, taking a pitch off 'the meat.' It would be mean of me to say anything other than "Get Well Soon, Jason." So get well soon, Jason. Also nicked up was LOOGY candidate Garrett Olson, who took a comebacker off his pitching hand. Josh Edgin wins via the two greatest words in the English language, De Fault. The Mets training staff needs to invest in like a hundred rolls of bubble wrap.
On the injury comeback trail is Scott Hairston, who took his first BP session yesterday. Anything is better than carrying a guy who struck out in almost a third of his PAs in the Eastern League. So get well soon, Scotty.
The Mets play another against the Cardinals today, and yes, David Wright will be in the line-up. Just don't break anything, David. Not even a bat. At least that is one less 40-man slot they are going to need to fill, cause that is looking like it is going to be a problem. Look, we absolutely have to make room for Miguel Batista, you guys.
Patrick Flood of Patrick Flood blog has a lot of thoughts about Spring Training. A lot of thoughts. While over in beat reporter land, Andy McCullough interviews Whitestone's own, and then eats dinner with R.A. Dickey. R.A. Dickey is just ridiculously awesome. He was also smart to pass on the raspberry iced tea, that stuff is usually terrible
Around the NL East
Yes, it's real. And it's spectacular.
Chase Utley is going to be out indefinitely. I need to find the world's smallest piano, the world's smallest cello, and the world's smallest violin to play a sad piano trio for Phillies fans. The world's smallest violin alone will not suffice. Cole Hamels is taking the news well, at least.
Josh Johnson is healthy and hitting (?!) for the Marlins. If they want to have a shot at the division, he's going to need to stay healthy the whole year, which has been getting harder and harder for him.
Meanwhile, the Braves wasted all their offense for April in one game. Bad run management, bravos.
Around MLB
The Royals are going to war with Yuniesky Betancourt. That always works out well. Oh the RoyaLOLs. Seriously, GMDM, spring training stats are meaningless. In equally silly prospect news, the Blue Jays demoted Travis Snider again. Poor Travis Snider, somebody who needs a good left-handed outfield bat should make an inquiry. Hint, hint, Sandy.
After suffering through some shoulder tightness, Neftali Feliz will be back on the mound for the Rangers this week. Also in Rangers' camp, Yu Darvish continues to stretch himself out. I wish I knew what it was like to have seven decent or better MLB starters on one roster.
Jerry Crasnick waxes poetic about Mike Trout while explaining why Vernon Wells will be starting in left field over him. Something there just doesn't compute, but that's what happens when you have a negative number like Wells' WAR tossed into the equation.
DUI News! Bobby Jenks is very sorry for his, while Matt Bush is facing a million dollar bail for his. Okay, now we can go back to talking about how horrible it is that Ryan Braun beat a PED rap.
Michael Pineda's fastball is fast again. Aren't we glad we all overreacted to Spring Training velocity now? In other news, what the heck is with Frank Francisco? Throw harder, jerk!
At FanGraphs, David Laurila talks about the future of the amateur draft with Dan Rosenheck and Adam Jonas. Laurila's stuff is always worth a read, and it will be interesting to see how the new CBA affects the organizations that are more aggressive in Latin America.
Finally, RotoGraphs takes a look at when you should actually start paying attention to Spring Training stats. A useful primer before we all start going nuts about Adam Loewen or something.